Guns and MA

[IcemanSK]

I don't think it's necessary, either. I grew up shooting guns & have a lot of respect for them & most of the folks who use them. But I don't see them as an important part of MA. I don't own one, nor do I plan to. Its not my thing.

[parkerlineage]

So, perhaps those reasons, then, are why they are no longer required to get a black belt.

Also, parkerlineage, that is very potent common sense by your GM. I don't think you will hear many GMs say something like that.

Yeah, he's a cool guy...a real thinker, as I imagine one would have to be, to be a GM, right?

Not to mention all the legal issues of pulling your gun, shooting someone, and then finding out they were pulling the wallet you dropped out of their pocket (or some other incident).

Yikes! That would stink...I don't think I would ever pull it in a public place, more like home defense, or in an alley, or something...however, don't you think that you could tell the difference between returning a wallet and an assault? Besides, you're required to give them a verbal warning and clearly identify a weapon before you fire.

[ps1]

This is an excellent question and debate. I think it all depends on where you're from. Clearly, in the UK this would not be an option (if I'm not mistaken) guns aren't even carried by the police.

However, in the US, where people are killed by guns every day...and many of those deaths are accidents...I can see Parkerlineage's point of view here. Afterall, having a liscense to carry does not necessitate carrying the weapon. It just means that you should really understand the dangers of the weapon. It's something many take for granted.

In our BJJ school the instructor brought in a couple guns to show the kids. He taught them how to check to see if they are loaded and other safety tips. Parents were kind of freaked out at first. But I think it was a good idea.

Hmmmmm...I don't think a lisence should be necessary though.

[lordtariel]

While I don't think it should be a requirement, I think some experience with guns is actually a good idea. You need to know not only how to deal with someone who pulls a gun, but how to make it safe once you've disarmed them, what its strengths and weaknesses are, and if the person using the gun is proficient with it. I don't think you need to train as a marksman in martial arts(Unless you're in Kyudo ), but a general introduction is important.

[TigerDude]

Bad idea in my opinion. There are some people who should not have a gun. If you want a gun as part of your martial art, join the Army.

I own guns, but have ambivalence about it. Your gun is far more likely to kill someone in your household than ever be pointed at someone else in self defense.

[UseoForce]

I'm surprised. I thought people would be more in favor of this.

Okay, first, yes, there are some people who should not have a gun. These are the same people who should not have a black belt or any martial arts training, so that point is irrelevent.

Second, the idea that you should have to join the army to possess a weapon is wrong. Thugs will carry weapons no matter what, and all responsible citizens should be carrying their own.

Third, anyone from the UK should know better than to think that gun control reduces crime or stops criminals from carrying guns. Every time the UK passes more gun control laws, the crime rates soar higher and higher, and the law abiding people have been essentially disarmed.

There are so many reasons why responsible citizens have the right to (and should) be armed, but I don't have time to post a bunch of statistics.

Bottom line: If you are taking martial arts for self-defense purposes, weapons, namely guns, should be the CORE-not the a supplement- of your training. Mankind stopped fighting with its bare hands thousands of years ago, and there is no reason a responsible citizen shouldn't be armed with the best weapon he has legal ability to carry. Some people have a problem with weapons and that's fine, just understand that if you don't carry a weapon, you are a major disadvantage to someone who does. And don't try to deny other people their right to carry.

[TigerDude]

And don't try to deny other people their right to carry.

I really don't think that gun ownership or the ability to carry is an innate, "God-given" right. There is SOME argument in the US, where it is in the Constitution, but even here, that constitutuional right is routinely restricted, and the restrictions upheld in court.

[UseoForce]

The right of law abiding people to have weapons is a God-given, innate right. The minute the law abiding people are disarmed, they are at the mercy of the only armed people left: The government and criminals. Is that an extreme case? Yes. Maybe a bit paranoid even.

But it is undeniably true.

As a wise mentor once told me, "The people with the guns make the rules."

[Anbu Alex]

lol u tell it how it is UseoForce i understand that if u are a black belt u are suppose to be responsible for yourself meaning u should know wat fights to get into and which fights not to get into (understandablelly) like i heard in Ny if u take a martial art any one u are considered a weapon and have to hold back but if its against a group of ppl or an armed person you are safe

i may look like a chicken saying this but if a guy had a gun pointed at (happened before) i wouldnt fight unless i really had to.

[lordtariel]

i may look like a chicken saying this but if a guy had a gun pointed at (happened before) i wouldnt fight unless i really had to.

Nothing wrong with that. There's only two reasons I would do anything different. If someone's life is at stake or they try to get you to come with them.

Gun control is a touchy subject and in my opinion, there's too many extreemists on both sides of the fence and not enough people in the middle ground.